Glazing tool



Sept. 8, 1959 J BUELQW 2,902,713

GLAZING TOOL Filed March 7, 1957 IN VEN TOR.

Job!) 4. Bue/ow GLAZING TOOL John A. Buelow, St. Paul, Minn.

Application March 7, 1957, Serial No. 644,568

Claims. (Cl. 18-35) This invention relates to an improvement in glazing tool and deals particularly with a hand operated device which simplifies the task of glazing a window.

The task of repairing a window having a broken pane is one which is diflicult to accomplish for most persons not skilled in the art. In the first place, considerable difficulty is often experienced in removing the hardened putty from the frame. This work is ordinarily done by a great variety of tools ranging from a screw driver or chisel to a knife. Unless at least the major portion of the old putty is removed before the new pane is inserted, the new pane will not properly fit within the frame. It is diflicult to remove all of the old putty without removing a part of the wood forming the frame in the event the frame is made of wood. Secondly, it is diflicult to insert the glazing points as these points must rest flush with the window pane in order to hold the pane firmly in place. This task is often done with a screw driver or chisel by first placing the glazing points against the glass and against the edge of the frame and then forcing the point into the wood with the edge of a screw driver blade or the like. With a tool of this type, it is difficult to hold the glazing point firmly against the glass as it is being inserted. Finally, it is difiicult for those who are not skilled at the task to apply the new putty in such a way that it assumes the proper angle and so that the putty being applied is lined up with the portion of the frame on the opposite side of the window pane. During this process, the oil containing putty is usually spread over substantial area of the window pane and making it necessary to clean the window after the putty has been applied. Cleaning the window is difficult to do without afltecting the shape of the putty which has been applied if the window is cleaned when the putty is still in an extremely soft state.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a simple and inexpensive tool which is capable of greatly simplifying the entire task of replacing a broken pane. The tool is designed to simplify the task of removing the old pntty. Means is also provided for simplifying the task of inserting the glazing points. The tool is also arranged to provide an application of putty which assumes the proper angle relative to the frame. Furthermore, the structure is such that the excess putty is directed onto the frame rather than onto the glass pane so that the major portion of the cleaning operation is rendered unnecessary.

A feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool which is designed to rest upon the portion of the window frame adjoining the window opening. A blade is provided which is adjustably connected to the tool and which is shaped to contact the marginal edge of the frame along the window opening. By moving this tool along the frame, the blade engages between the old putty and the surface of the window pane, acting to scrape the old putty from the frame. The blade may be adjusted to extend in close proximity to the window pane but slightly spaced therefrom so as to permit the ice blade to pass over the glazing points which are embedded in the old putty.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool of the type described having a blade shaped in such a manner as to direct old putty scraped from the window pane away from the body of the frame. The center portion of the blade is bent outwardly from the plane of the ends of the blade so that the edge of the blade most closely adjacent the window pane forms a wide flat V-shape. This blade shape permits the old putty to be plowed away from the portion of the frame to which it was previously adhered.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool having a flat undersurface which is preferably formed of metal and which may rest upon the window frame or upon the glass pane. The ends of this hearing portion of the tool are notched to accommodate the wide edge of a triangular glazing point. As a result, a portion of the glazing point may be sandwiched between a portion of the tool and the glass pane thus holding the glazing point securely against the pane as it is being inserted by movement of the tool toward the window frame.

A further feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a tool of elongated form having blades adjustably attached to opposite sides thereof. These blades are adjustable in position so that the operating edge of each blade may be supported in a projected position or may be supported in a retracted or inoperative position. The two blades are cooperable in that one blade may be used to hold the tool at a desired angle relative to the window pane while the putty is being smoothed by the opposite blade.

An added feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool having a pair of spaced parallel blades, one of which is angular in form so as to form the putty at a predetermined angle relative to the frame and window pane. During this operation, the second blade is used as a spacing blade to hold the tool edge opposite the smoothing blade at an adjusted distance from the pane. Thus, the angle at which the putty is applied may be regulated by adjusting the height of the opposite blade.

In the present description, the term putty has been used to describe the mastic compound which forms the seal between the frame and the pane of glass. Certain products are produced for this purpose which are not actually putty in the normal sense of the word such as mastic compounds known as plastic sealing compounds and the like. It should be understood that the tool is useful for applying any such compounds and the term putty is used merely to indicate a type of material which is employed.

A further feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a tool which is reversible and which will operate equally well by moving the tool along the frame in either direction. This is important as it permits the operator to apply the putty close to the corners of the frame. It also permits the tool to be used with equal ease by right handed persons or by left handed persons.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of the tool showing one of the blades in projected position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the opposite side of the tool.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the tool is employed to remove old putty from the window frame.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the tool is used to insert glazing points.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through a portion of a window frame showing the position of the tool when in use smoothing the new putty in place.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of one of the blades.

Figure 7 is an edge or bottom view of the blade shown in Figure 6.

The tool is indicated in general by the letter A. The tool includes a handle portion 10 which is generally rectangular in outline as viewed from either side. Looking at the end of the tool, the handle 10 includes a flat bottom portion 11 and right angularly extending wall portions 12 adjoining the bottom 11. Above the parallel rectangularly extending sides 12, the handle is bowed inwardly on either side as indicated at 13 to form a neck portion 14 of reduced cross sectional thickness. The curves 13 extend inwardly and then outwardly to provide a thicker grasping portion 15 defined by reversely curved portions '16 which are connected by a rounded upper portion 17. The handle 10 thus formed thus provides a rounded upper portion which may be easily grasped between the fingers of a hand and the reduced thickness portion permits the handle to be more easily manipulated. It also provides anadded feature which will be later described.

The generally rectangularly arranged bottom portion of the handle is preferably covered by a channel shaped reinforcing member 19 which includes a flat bottom, best illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, and substantially parallel sides 21 and 22 which overlie the parallel sides 12 of the handle 10. The opposite sides 21 and 22 of the channel member 19 are suitably apertured to accommodate clamping bolts 23 having wing nuts 24 thereupon. These clamping bolts 23 hold the channel member 19 from movement in any direction with respect to the handle 10.

A blade 25 is reversibly and detachably secured to one side of the handle 10 and when in use, the blade 25 projects below the level of the base of the channel member 19. As is best indicated in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings the blade includes a flat upper portion 26 having a pair of parallel grooves or notches 27 therein communicating with the upper edge 29 of the blade. The operating portion of the blade 25 is divided into three generally triangular portions which are angularly related to each other and to the flat portion 26. These three triangular portions include an outwardly and downwardly inclined center portion 30 which is connected to the flat blade portion 26 along a line of bend 31. The

lower portion of the blade also includes generally triangular end portions 32 and 33 which are connected to the lower edges of the intermediate portion 30 along lines of bend 34 and 35. These triangular portions 32 and 33 have ends 36 and 37 which are on a common plane and form extensions of the ends 39 and 40 of the flat portion 26. The end 36, 39 as well as the end 37, 40 of the blade 26 inclines upwardly and inwardly so that the lower edge of the blade is wider than the upper edge thereof.

When in place, the blade 25 is inserted between the Wing nuts 24 and the side 21 of the channel member 19, the flat upper portion 26 of the blade extending in surface contact with the flange 21. Optionably of course, the blade 26 may be mounted upon the opposite side of the handle. When in operating position, the lower portion of the blade projects below the bottom 20 of the channel member 19. However, when the tool is used for inserting glazing points in the window frame, or when the tool is not in use, the blade 25 may be inverted so that the cutting edge of the blade extends along the body of the handle 10.

A second blade 41 is attached to the side of the handle 10 opposite the side to which the blade 25 is attached. The blade 41 includes an upper flat attaching portion 42 and a putty smoothing portion 43 which is at an acute angle to the plane of the attaching portion 42. In actual practice, the planes of the blade portions 42 and 43 are on the order of 30 degrees apart. The portion 42 of the blade 41 is provided with parallel slots or notches 44 which communicate with the edge 45 of the blade so that the blade may be attached and detached without entirely removing the clamping bolts 23. The ends of the flat anchoring portion 42 of the blade is preferably beveled as indicated at 46 and the blade is reversibly supported. When in the operable position shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the blade portion 43 extends downwardly at an acute angle to the bottom 20 of the channel member 19 and when in inverted position, the blade portion 43 may extend into the recess formed by the inward curving of the handle to form the reduced thickness part 14.

As is indicated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the ends of the base 29 of the channel member 19 are notched as indicated at 47, the length of the notch being at least equal to the length of one side of a glaziers point as indicated at B in Figure 4 of the drawings. These glazier points are usually triangular in outline and extend into the window frame to hold the glass in place.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings show the tool in operation upon a window frame C. The window frame C is rabbeted or grooved to provide a shoulder 49 against which the glass pane 5%} may engage. Normally, the shoulder 49 is on the inner surface of the window pane. Figure 3 shows the manner in which the tool is operated to remove old putty from around the frame, the putty being removed to permit replacement of the pane 50. While the pane 50 is shown in Figure 3 as being unbroken, it should be understood that normally the pane is only removed when the glass is cracked or broken and in some instances the pane is entirely removed from the frame before the putty removing operation shown in Figure 3. It makes no difference in the operation whether the window pane is in place or removed during this operation.

in order to remove the putty 50 from the frame C, the blade 41 is mounted in inoperative position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. The wing nuts 24 on the clamping bolts are loosened and the bottom 20 of the angle member 19 is rested upon the flat surface 51 of the window frame C with the blade 25 extending toward the window pane or to the area where the window pane would normally be. The blade 25 is adjusted in position until the edge 52 of the blade or at least the ends of the edge 52 are spaced from the surface of the window pane a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the glazing points B. The wing nuts 24 are then tightened and the tool is in readiness for use.

With the base 20 of the angle member 19 held against the frame surface 51, and the body of the tool held at an acute angle to the edge of the frame, the tool is pushed forwardly, the forward edge of the blade 25 which in the arrangement illustrated would be the edge 36 of the cutting blade, is forced into the putty and against the edge of the frame. The tool is then pushed longitudinally of each frame side so that the forward edge of the blade extends along the edge of the frame. The blade 25 acts as a plow to separate the old putty from the edge of the wooden frame and to direct the putty away from the frame as indicated in Figure 3 of the drawings in the event the pane 50 is at least partially in place. Due to the fact that the glaziers points are in close proximity to the surface of the pane and as the cutting edge of the blade is slightly spaced from the plane of the pane surface, these glaziers points will not interfere with the operation of the tool. Usually, the dried putty will break away from the frame in chunks so that all of the putty is removed during the operation described even though the lower edge of the blade does not contact the surface of the glass. However, in the event narrow webs of putty remain, attached to the frame after: the major portion of the putty has been removed, the glaziers points may be pulled out of place, the blade 25 may be lowered relative to the channel member 19, and any remaining putty may be scraped from the frame.

This operation prepares the frame to receive a new pane which is next inserted in place. In order to distinguish the new pane from the old, the new pane is indicated by the numeral 52 in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. In order to insert the glazing points B into the frame, the tool is held with the undersurface 20 of the U-shaped member 19 in surface contact with the glass pane and a glazing point is inserted between the bottom surface 11 of the handle and the pane 52, the edge of the glazing point being within the notch 47. The tool is then moved toward the frame C, the glazing point sliding along the surface of the pane until it engages the frame. By pushing endwise on the tool from the position shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, the glazing point B is inserted. The depth of the notch 47 is such that when the end of the handle is against the frame, a sufiicient portion of the glazing point will project to hold the pane in place.

After the pane has been held in place, the new putty 53 is applied. The putty may be applied by the use of the blade 41 if desired, or a putty knife can be used for applying putty to the juncture between the window pane and the rabbeted portion of the frame. The tool A is then used as indicated in general in Figure 5 of the drawings to smooth the putty, to remove any excess putty, and to form the proper angle between the surface of the putty and the frame and the pane. This angle is dependent upon the thickness of the frame, the depth of the rabbeted portion, and the width of this rabbeted portion. For example, in some instances the finished surface of the putty will be at perhaps 45 degrees to the plane of the window pane. In other instances, the angle of this surface will be at perhaps 60 degrees to the surface of the window pane. It is desirable that the depth of putty along the marginal edge of the window pane extend to a point just opposite the inner surface of the frame inwardly of the rabbeted portion. The proper angle may be attained by loosening the wing nuts 24 while both blades 25 and 41 are projecting from the undersurface of the tool. The inclined blade portion 43 of the blade 41 is then held against the frame as indicated in Figure 5 and the handle tilted until the edge of the blade which contacts the pane engages the pane at a point spaced from the base of the rabbeted portion a distance equal to the depth of the rabbeted portion. It will be noted from Figure 5 of the drawings that the wall of putty adjacent the pane 52 is in opposed relation to the inner surface 54 of the frame C.

With the tool held as indicated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the tool may be drawn along the frame, being held in proper angular relation to the frame by the engagement of the blade 25 with the pane, the wing nuts 24 having been retightened. If the tool is held at a slight angle to the edge of the frame, any excess putty will be squeezed from beneath the blade onto the window frame C as shown in Figure 5. This is important as with most tools used for the same purpose, any excess putty is spread onto the window pane. As the putty is normally an oily material, this action makes the window much more difficult to clean.

Thus, it will be seen that my tool is capable of removing old putty, inserting glazing points, and reapplying the putty and accomplishes these tasks much more readily and effectively than other tools with which I am familiar. By proper use of the tool, an expert glazing job may be performed by an unskilled worker.

The shape of the blade 25 is of importance during the putty smoothing operation as well as during the putty removing process. As the tool is held at an angle to the frame and moved along the frame to smooth the putty, any excess putty which is on the surface of the pane is 6 plowed toward the frame by the trailing edge of the blade 25 and deposited in spaced relation to the frame. The blade shape also provides greater stability when used as a support.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my improvement in glazing tool, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiments thereof, I desire to have it understood that changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A glazing tool including a body having a flat surface and substantially parallel sides on opposite sides of said surface, a blade secured to each of said sides, one of said blades having an edge portion projecting beneath said under surface and at an acute angle thereto, and means adjustably supporting the other of said blades for adjustment in a direction right angularly to said flat surface and to project downwardly from said surface a variable distance, said other blade holding said first mentioned blade at a predetermined angle to a fiat surface upon which the downwardly projecting blade edges rest.

2. A glazing tool for use upon a flat surface including a body having a bottom and substantially parallel sides on opposite sides of said bottom, a blade secured to each said side to project in the same general direction beneath said bottom from said body, one of said blades having a projecting portion and an attaching portion, said portions being connected along a line of bend and arranged at an obtuse angle, said projecting portion inclining toward the other of said blades, and means adjustably mounting at least one of said blades to project a greater or lesser amount beneath said bottom of said body, whereby adjustment of said adjustably mounted blade may adjust the angular relation of said projecting portion of said one blade relative to the flat surface upon which the blades rest.

3. The structure of claim 2 and in which said other blade has a projecting portion and an anchoring portion, the center of the free edge of said projecting portion being offset from the plane of the anchoring portion and ends of the projecting portion of said other blade.

4. The structure of claim 2 and in which the adjustable mounting means includes parallel slots extending into the edge of each blade opposite the projecting edge, and clamping bolts extending through said body and through said slots.

5. A glazing tool including an elongated body having a bottom and side walls on opposite sides of said bottom, a blade extending downwardly from said body beneath said bottom on a plane inclined from the vertical, and adjustable means on said body spaced from said blade in the direction of inclination of the blade and projecting downwardly therefrom beneath said bottom to an adjustable degree whereby when said tool is rested upon a flat surface, the blade will be supported at an angle to said flat surface determined by the degree of projection of said adjustable means.

6. In combination, a tool including an elongated body having a substantially flat under surface and generally parallel sides at substantially right angles to said under surface, blades detachably supported on said sides, parallel notches formed in said blades and communicating with an edge of each blade, and clamping bolts extending through said body parallel to said under surface and extending through said notches, said blades having a height with respect to the length of said notches so as to project beneath the level of said bottom in one position and so as not to project beneath the level of said bottom in inverted position, one of said blades having a flat anchoring portion having said notched edge, and a flat obtusely angled portion substantially coextensive with said anchoring portion and projectable beyond said bottom when in projecting position, whereby relative adjustment of said blades will determine the angle of inclination of the tool during its use.

7. The structure of claim 6and in which said body is longitudinally recessed to accommodate said obtusely angled portion in inverted position of said blade.

8. In combination, a tool including an elongated body having a substantially flat under surface and generally parallel sides at substantially right angles to said under surface, blades detachably supported on said sides, parallel notches formed in said blades and communicating with an edge of each blade, and clamping bolts extending through said body parallel to said under surface and extending through said notches, said blades having a height With respect to the length of said notches so as to project beyond said bottom in one position and so as not to project beyond said bottom in inverted position, one of said blades including a longitudinally extending anchoring portion and an adjoining projectable portion, said anchoring portion including said notched edge, and said anchoring portion and the ends of said projectable portion being on a common plane, said projectable portion having an offset central portion, the edge of said one blade opposite said notched edge including portions diverging from said central portion to the said common plane, whereby relative adjustment of said blades will determine the angle of inclination of the tool during its use.

9. In combination, a tool including an elongated body having a substantially flat under surface and generally right angular parallel sides, a channel member of sheet material enclosing said under surface andsides,-an elongated blade including substantially paralleltop and bottom edges and divided intedmediate said edges along a line of bend to form an anchoringportion and an obtusely angled projectable portion,a pair of notches extending into said parallel edge of said anchoring portion at substantially right angles thereto, a second blade having generally parallel top and bottom edges, parallel slots extending into said second blade from one of said parallel edges thereof, and clamping bolts extending through said body, through the sides of said channel member, and through said notches to adjustably connect saidblades to said body, whereby relative adjustment of said blades will determine the angle of inclination of the tool during its use. Y

10. The structure of claim 9- and including a notch in an end of the bottom portion of saidchannel member, said notch having a base parallel to the-channel member end and of suflicient Width'to accommodate an edge of a triangular glazing point. I I

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,681 Norton Jan. 23, 1917 1,697,091 Skubic Ian. '1, 1929 2,545,379 Pomichter Mar. 13, 1951 2,818,602 Haretik et a1. Jan. 7, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS v Y B 24186IVC Germany Jan. 19,1956 

